Luan attended our school for two half days back in January and February this year to run small group music workshops introducing the children to the woodwind instruments of the orchestra and involving them in some playing and movement activities. Luan’s planning and implementation of each session was detailed, professional and inspiring to all. She was able to vary the content of each one according to group size and the children’s abilities and was able to pace the sessions to fit in with the daily timetable.

I also found Luan’s communication with the children to be exceptional. She conveyed instructions in a clear concise manner and always ensured they understood before proceeding. In addition she gave praise and encouragement for efforts and above all showed a passion for her own music and for music making in general. I would have no hesitation in inviting Luan back to our school for more workshops in the future.

James McGeorge, Class teacher/Music Co-ordinator, Dame Ellen Pinsent Special School                                                                                                             

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Luan has been on Sound It Out's "Marketing Musicians" programme, which I have led.  She is a highly skilled and experienced performer.  She came to the programme with a strong record of music activities in schools, though Live Music Now.  She has shown herself to be highly committed to the development of her educational and workshop skills and is already showing her strength in this area.  Andrew Peggie, the lead composer in a major school residency which Luan was involved with, made the following comments:  "I feel she has exactly the right qualities for success in the community music field: secure musicality, imagination and an excellent rapport with participants."

Luan has shown herself to be always well organised and totally reliable.

Mark Bick, Marketing Musicians Course Leader, Sound it Out Community Music  

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The Education Department of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has employed Luan in two areas of its work to date. As an extra player, Luan regularly plays with the Little Big Time Band, a six piece ensemble who perform in primary schools around the West Midlands. The performance consists of arrangements of well known classical music, TV themes and advertisements. Each of the players performs solo as well as with the ensemble and talk to, and interact with the audience. Luan is a popular player with the band and is able to interact well with the audience and adapt her presentation to suit the needs of different groups.

Most recently Luan has been involved in 'The Lion' project, a multi-media creative project combining the art forms of music, physical theatre and production design. Players from the orchestra led workshop sessions in schools, creating music inspired by three episodes from the book 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. Luan worked with another CBSO player in a primary school in one of Birmingham's Education Action Zones. Luan worked well, both with her fellow musician and the children, she was able to draw out the children's own ideas and work with them to find the best way to put them across. She showed great initiative and an ability to think on her feet. For example; as a warm up we played a high/low singing game, asking the children to move in relation to the pitch we were singing. Luan introduced her clarinet, thus extending the range of pitches and demonstrating the versatility of the instrument.

Luan was not only effective in the workshop sessions but made a useful and well informed contribution to both the mid-project meeting and the final evaluation meeting.  In summary I have no hesitation in recommending Luan Shaw to you.

Neil Chapman, Education Officer, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra                                                                                                        

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Earlier this year Luan worked for Wigmore Hall Education as an animateur with a small team leading a Young People's Workshop. Luan was responsible for a group of 20 young people (aged 8 - 15) and worked with them to create their own music in response to Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale. She assisted young people of varying levels of ability and experience in the generation of musical ideas and the development of these ideas. She also coached the young people in performing skills and took part in the final performance.

Luan is a thoughtful and sensitive musician who works sympathetically with participants of all levels of ability. In June she joins Wigmore Hall Education again for a Family Day. I am happy to recommend her work both as a musician and workshop leader and we are very much looking forward to working with her again in the summer.

Rachel Selvidge, Education Co-ordinator, Wigmore Hall

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“…the children were fascinated by the way you introduced the clarinet.  We all appreciated your cheerful and positive attitude and friendly manner..."

Langley Special School, Sutton Coldfield 

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“…absolutely brilliant!  The children were enthralled and really got a tremendous amount out of the session.  It was pitched perfectly at their ability range…”

Dame Ellen Pinsent Special School, Birmingham

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“…excellent presentation, very interactive, worthwhile.  It complemented our music curriculum; the links with science and geography were valuable.  The children liked the hands on approach and enjoyed themselves immensely…”               

Hamilton Special School, Birmingham

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“…The feedback I received from all staff was very positive. Your music reached some children who can be hard to interest in activities, and held their attention for long periods of time. You have a real gift for responding quickly to the children at the right level and a wonderful rapport with them. Thank you Luan!..."                                                                                       

Cherry Oak Special School, Birmingham

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“…all of her sessions were lively and full of humour.  Luan focused on each individual’s ability giving them a sense of purpose…”

The Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and the Arts, Leicester

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“…you made the morning of World Mental Health Day very special…”

Highcroft Hospital, Birmingham

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“…a great success with some terribly exciting responses from the residents…”

The Lost Chord Project for Dementia sufferers, South Yorkshire

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“…the atmosphere was relaxed and informal enabling everyone to participate without any feelings of awkwardness.  I was very pleased with the whole event…”

Birmingham Focus on Blindness

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“…the children found the workshop a very enjoyable experience in which they could use their own instruments, and in such a way that no-one felt threatened by their inability to play perfectly. Using and adapting simple games meant everyone could take part in the workshop all the time. The hour passed very quickly and the children were reluctant to go home…”

St Ambrose Barlow Primary School, Birmingham (yr 3 & 4)

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“…both teachers felt it was very age appropriate and held the children's attention really well because it involved them in many different ways. Thank you very much!…”

St Barnabas CE Primary School, Birmingham (Yr 1 & 2)

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“…assembly was interactive and engaging. Pupils enjoyed the opportunity to handle clarinet reeds and assemble the instrument. Classroom sessions enabled interactive work and development of musical elements (pitch, dynamics, rhythm etc). As Year 1 missed assembly their half hour workshop was well adapted to cater for their needs.  Good explanations of instruments and their capabilities. All pupils were engaged and Luan handled audiences most effectively (large, medium and small!) Thank you for a wonderful morning which supported our music curriculum so well...”